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The South African Academic Profession: Job Satisfaction for a Besieged Profession?

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Job Satisfaction around the Academic World

Abstract

This chapter investigates the job satisfaction of the South African academics using data procured by means of the international CAP (Changing Academic Profession) survey of the academic profession. While on aggregate they are mildly satisfied with their profession, they do feel that working conditions in higher education are deteriorating. It is also disturbing that one-third indicated that they would not enter the profession if they could have it all over again. Academics feel the stranglehold of managerialism. The differences in male–female job satisfaction and between teacher-oriented and research-oriented academics point to the persistence of the historical organisational set-up and cultures of South African universities.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Education, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa

    Charl C. Wolhuter

Authors
  1. Charl C. Wolhuter
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Correspondence to Charl C. Wolhuter .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. LH Martin Institute for Higher Education, Swanston Street 715, Carlton, 3010, Victoria, Australia

    Peter James Bentley

  2. LH Martin Institute for Higher Education, Swanston Street 715, Carlton, 3010, Victoria, Australia

    Hamish Coates

  3. Wingrove St. 174, Fairfield, 3078, Victoria, Australia

    Ian R Dobson

  4. LH Martin Institute for Higher Education, Swanston St 715, Carlton, 3052, Victoria, Australia

    Leo Goedegebuure

  5. LH Martin Institute for Higher Education, Swanston St 715, Carlton, 3010, Victoria, Australia

    V Lynn Meek

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Wolhuter, C.C. (2013). The South African Academic Profession: Job Satisfaction for a Besieged Profession?. In: Bentley, P., Coates, H., Dobson, I., Goedegebuure, L., Meek, V. (eds) Job Satisfaction around the Academic World. The Changing Academy – The Changing Academic Profession in International Comparative Perspective, vol 7. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5434-8_11

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